Brain hemorrhage suspected in death of Cecil County girl

Cecil County authorities yesterday released the name of the 8-year-old girl who died after going into cardiac arrest at school.

Melissa Antognoli complained of a severe headache about 8:30 a.m. Thursday while on the bus to Conowingo Elementary, said Lt. Bernard Chiominto of the Cecil County Sheriff's Office.

The headache worsened and she was carried into the nurse's office, where she became unconscious, Chiominto said. The nurse started CPR and the school called 911, he said. Melissa was brought by ambulance to Harford Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m., said Chiominto.

A preliminary investigation by the state medical examiner found that the death was caused by a brain hemorrhage. Police said there was nothing in Melissa's medical history that would have indicated she was at risk.